Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles - Actualites Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 26 text:

PRETEND AT BEING BLIND, WHICH CALLS TRUTH NEAR a poem by Ray Bradbury The backyard of my mind is filled this summer morning With a soft and humming tide The gentle glide and simmer, the frail tremoring Of wings invisible which pause upon the air, Subside, then come again at merest whisper To the lip of flower to the edge of wonder; They do not tear asunder, their purpose simple Is to waken me to wander without looking Never thinking only feeling; Thoughts can come long after breakfast. . . Now ' s the time to press the air apart And stand submerged by pollen siftings And the driftings of those oiled and soundless wings Which scribble waves of ink and water Flourished eye-wink fluttering and scurry Paradox of poise and hurry, Standing still while spun-wound-bursting to depart, Swift migrations of the heart of universe Which surfs the wind and pulses awe; Thirsting bird or artful thought the same, Sight, not staring, wins the game, 22

Page 25 text:

m » • P ma »i j 4 i «£» ' UaaU » ce)oo k f- Woolloo Mooloo veut dire petit kangourou en Australie. Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles est le seul lycee au monde a avoir comme eleve un petit kangourou, 21

Page 27 text:

Touch but do not trap things with the eyes, Glance off, encouraging surprise; Doing and being. . .these the true twins of eternal seeing, Thinking comes later. For now, balance at the equator of morn ' s midnight With wordless welcome, beckon in the days But shout not, nor make motion, Tremble not the sea or ocean of be ing Where thoughts in rounded flight fast-fleeing Stone-pebble-skip Across the surface of calm mind; Pretend at being blind which calls truth near. . . Until the hummingbirds , The hummingbirds , The humming- -birds Ten billion gyroscopes, Swoop in to touch, Spin, Whisper, Balance, Sweet migrations of gossip in each ear. (Courtesy of Mr. Ray Bradbury to the editors of the Yearbook) 23